Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-07
MURDERED IN MEXICO.
The assassination Of Leon MIL
Bald win near Ventanas.

The AssaSsinatiOn of Leon MIL.
Baldwin near Ventanas.
Letters received from the Ventanas
mines in Mexico convey particulars
concerning the dastardly assassination
of Leon Mcleod Baldwin, we'll
known citizen OF this city, and reveal
an incredible state of affairs even for
Mexico. The mines are located about
one hundred miles from Mazatlan, in
the State of Durango, and are very
valuable. Recently band of outlaws
appeared in the district, and now have
things their own way. They openly
state that they intend to kill every
foreigner in that part of the country,
and have already murdered three
Americans. Last March they killed a
man named Smith, living on ranch.
A man named Blanche was their next
victim, on the 23d of last June, and
Mr.. Baldwin was their last. The Cir
cumstances of his assassination are as
follows:
On the 10Th of August he started to
inspect one of the group of mines of
which he was superintendent, known
as the Nalenciana. He arrived about
10 A. NJ, and just as he alighted from
his mule two men, armed with Win
chester rifles, arose from behind some
rocks and fired at him, one shot strik
Ing him in the right shoulder, passing
through it, and breaking the shoulder
blade, so that his right arm was rem
dered useless. He succeeded in draw
ing his pistol with his left hand, and
ran into a tunnel which was near at
,f Il 10.
follow him, but made prisoners OF the
five unarmed miners who were there.
They then threatened the miners that
if they did not bring Mr.. Baldwin out
of the tunnel they would shoot them.
The foreman went into the tunnel and
told his employer what the bandits
had said. Mr.. Baldwin directed
the foreman to 60 out and
try and find out what they wanted,
that if it was money they wanted he
Lad only $50 with him, but that his
company would pay reasonable ran
som for his release. The blood-thirsty
scoundrels finally agreed not to harm
the wounded man any more and said
they would fix the sum of money for
his ransom. Mr.. Baldwin then came
out of the tunnel and mounted his
mule, but as he was so weak from the
effects of his wounds that he could not
guide the animal, they took boy
from the mine to lead, threatening
the miners that # they followed them
they would be shot. Shortly after the
departure of the party the miners
heard five shots, and upon going down
the road they found Mr.. Baldwin ly-
ing dead with a bullet through the
brain. The robbers had departed
taking the boy with them, since which
time nothing has been heard of him.
This murder occurred within two
miles of the town of Ventanas. Al
though this band of outlaws have been
operating around the town for several
months, and their haunts are very
we'll known to the authorities and
soldiery, very little exertion is made
to catch them. In fact, the scoundrels
90 into the town and openly boast of
their murderous deeds.
Mr.. Baldwin was identified with the
mining interests of this coast for the
past twelve years. In 1875 he was
Superintendent of the California Mill
Company at Virginia City and was
Assistant Superintendent of the JUS
tice mine. Previous to his departure
for Mexico he was Assistant Assayer
in the United States Mint of this city.
He was also at one time owner of the
Los Feliz ranch, near the city of Los
Angeles, and has brother, General
John M. Baldwin, living in that city.
He leaves widow, the daughter of
the late Mrs. Anna Key Turner, and a
young son about fifteen years old. Mr..
Baldwin was the son of DR.. John M.
Baldwin, who was murdered by an
Englishman, named Hetherington, in
the pioneer days, who was afterward
hanged by the Vigilance Committee.
He was born in New Orleans, La,
and was forty-five years old. He was
a highly educated and pure-minded
gentleman with many admirable traits
of character.
The above graphic account from the
San Francisco Bulletin of the death of
this distinguished gentleman will be
read with much sorrow by old Ange-
leflos, to whom Mr.. Baldwin was well
known. He lived on the Los Feliz
ranch for a long time, and no citizen